NPP MP Andy Appiah Kubi to appear before Special Prosecutor over bribery allegations
The Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North, Andy Appiah Kubi, is set to appear before the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, today, May 10th, over allegations that a wealthy businessman tried bribing MPs who were pushing for the removal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta. The allegations were made by Kubi and the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu in a media interview. They claimed that a renowned businessman in Ghana tried influencing the decision of some members of the Majority group with money over their demand for the dismissal of leadership of the Finance Ministry.
The meeting with the Special Prosecutor today is expected to unveil the said wealthy businessman and subsequent actions which will be taken. This follows an earlier petition by pressure group Occupy Ghana on November 3, 2022, to probe the allegations.
Background:
Andy Appiah Kubi and over 50 New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs in 2022 called for the removal of the Finance Minister, but they later softened their stance after meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. They kowtowed to the President’s pleas to have the Minister stay in office to seal Ghana’s bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Following this development, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Appiah-Kubi alleged that a supposed businessman tried to influence the group with money brought to Parliament in a bid to get the MPs to abort their decision. The Majority Leader stated that Parliament will investigate the allegations of bribery levelled against the unnamed popular businessman.
For the most part, this development highlights the need for accountability and transparency in the country’s political landscape. Corruption remains a major challenge in Ghana, and such allegations cannot be swept under the carpet. It is imperative that the alleged bribery incident is thoroughly investigated to ensure that justice is served and deter others from engaging in similar acts. The role of the Special Prosecutor in this regard cannot be overemphasized. In a nutshell, the outcome of the investigations will determine the direction of the country’s fight against corruption.